 /*
  * $Header: /cvshome/build/org.osgi.service.component/src/org/osgi/service/component/ComponentFactory.java,v 1.19 2006/06/16 16:31:26 hargrave Exp $
  *
  * Copyright (c) OSGi Alliance (2004, 2006). All Rights Reserved.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
  * You may obtain a copy of the License at
  *
  * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
  *
  * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
  * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
  * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */

 package org.osgi.service.component;

 import java.util.Dictionary ;

 /**
  * When a component is declared with the <code>factory</code> attribute on its
  * <code>component</code> element, the Service Component Runtime will register
  * a Component Factory service to allow new component configurations to be
  * created and activated rather than automatically creating and activating
  * component configuration as necessary.
  *
  * @version $Revision: 1.19 $
  */
 public interface ComponentFactory {
     /**
      * Create and activate a new component configuration. Additional properties
      * may be provided for the component configuration.
      *
      * @param properties Additional properties for the component configuration
      * or <code>null</code> if there are no additional properties.
      * @return A <code>ComponentInstance</code> object encapsulating the
      * component instance of the component configuration. The component
      * configuration has been activated and, if the component specifies
      * a <code>service</code> element, the component instance has been
      * registered as a service.
      * @throws ComponentException If the Service Component Runtime is unable to
      * activate the component configuration.
      */
     public ComponentInstance newInstance(Dictionary properties);
 }

